Machine for use in the manufacture of boots and shoes.



B. F. MAYO.

MACHINE FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1908.

1,106,394, Patented Aug. 11,1914.

2 SHEETSSHEBT 1.

B. P. MAYO.

MACHINE FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19. 1908.

1,106,394. Patented Aug.11,1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Fig. 6.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN F. MAYO, 0F SALEM MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIG-NOR T0 UNITED SHOE. MACHINERY COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES.

Application filed May 19, 1908. Serial No. 433,627.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 11, 1914.

a citizen of the United States, residing at Salem, in the county of Essex and Common Wealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Machines for Use in the Manufacture of Boots and Shoes, of

which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures. 1

This invention relates to the manufacture of boots and shoes and particularly to conforming uppers to lasts.

This invention has special reference to shaping the upper materials to the last on i the bottom of the shoe and on the sides of the shoe at and near its edge. At the heel portion of the shoe the stiffener renders'the upper material bulky, and, particularly if an unmolded or straight stiffener is used, difficult to conform to the shape of the last on which the shoe is being made. A similar difficulty is found in the toe portion of many shoes in which the stiffening material produces a thick upper which does not readily take the shape of the last. It is customary to rub or beat down these portions of the shoe for the purpose of forcing the upper materials firmly against the last and into close conformity to the shape of the last and to smooth and even the surfaces of the upper. By this beating operation on the bottom of the heel of the shoe the upper materials are compacted and the surface thereof evened to form a seat for the heel end of the shoe sole. If the shoe has been previously lasted the lasting tacks will also be driven firmly into the stock. This operation of beating the heel seat is very generally performed with a hand hammer by the laster. This is slow and laborious, and if the work is done as thoroughly as it should be it consumes considerable time of a skilled workman. In accordance with a feature of the present in vention a rotary beater is provided by which the upper materials at the heel end of the shoe can with great rapidity and thoroughness be forced into conformity with the shape of the last and compacted and beaten down to form the heel seat. The rotary beater is shown as in the form of a roll having a plurality, preferably a large number, of beating surfaces and arranged to be driven at a high speed. Preferably the roll is so dimensioned or the beating surfaces so formed that said surfaces approach and strike the work in a plane at a small angle to the plane of the surface being beaten. With this construction the work is done by a large number of beating or beating and wiping blows which, following each other rapidly, will work the upper into conformity with the shape of the last and compact and even it very quickly. The blows produced by this rotary beater are so rapid and may be so light while still being effectual, particularly if the beating surfaces areformed as above described, that no objectionable vibration of the shoe is produced and it is unnecessary to employ a jack for supporting the shoe. The time saved by reason of the fact that it is not necessary to jack each shoe before presenting it to the machine andunjack it after the heel seat has been beaten enables the operation to be carried on much more rapidly than can be done with machines having reciprocating beating tools which require a jack for holding the shoe. Thetendency of the rotary beater to wipe the upper on the, shoe bottom inwardly from the edge of the shoe is also advantageous in drawing the upper snugly to the last. The beater is shown as transversely concave on its periphery and as having an acting face of greater lateral extent than the width of a shoe. This construction permits a shoe to be presented in such different angular positions that the action of the heaters will be from the edge of the shoe bottom inwardly at the sides of the heel as well as at the end of the heel.

Another feature of the invention consists in providing a novel beater adapted to shape the side of the shoe. This is also shown in the form of a roll having a plurality of beating faces on its periphery and arranged to be rapidly rotated for delivering light rubbing blows in quick succession to the upper materials on the side of the shoe about the heel end of the last. By this beater the upper and heel stiffener may be conformed to the contour of the side of the last more effectually and far more rapidly than it is practical to do by hand. Prefer: ably the shoe is' presented to this latter beater which will be referred to as the counter rotary beater to distinguish it from the heel seat beater first described, after it has been acted upon by the heel seat beater. The beating surfaces striking the side of the shoe lightly and rapidly and rubbing in the direction of the length of the edge of the shoe,- form and shape the upper at the edge of the shoe preferably forming a well defined angular edge that will fit closely to the adjacent fae I of the sole in the completed shoe.

'Fhe beating surfaces of both rolls are shown as formed by making in the peripheral surfaces of the rolls depressions the Walls of which and the intervening high portions form the beating members. The beating surfaces'in the counter beater are preferably more rounded than those on the heel seat heater; and on the counter beater the depressions do not extend to the lateral edges of the periphery, but taper to a point within the edge leaving a margin that is smooth. By this construction danger of marking the upper by the edge of the beater is avoided. Preferably the end of the roll adjacent to, the bottom of the shoe is enlarged or flared to overlie the edge of the shoe bottom.

For treating the,upperon the side ofthe forward portion of the shoe a rubbing roll is provided the periphery of which ispreferably smooth or uninterrupted. This roll smooths the upper, rubbing out wrinkles and other inequalities whiehmay exist, particularly around thetoe where the upper has been .plaited in overworking it, and presses a the upper, firmly into. conformity with the contour of the last. Preferably this roll is heated and serves to iron the upper at and adjacent to the edge of the shoe. It will herein .be designated as the ironing roll to distinguish it from the other tools.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel means for applying oil to the stock which is treated by the machine. As herein shown, the oil is supplied to the rolls and applied to the upper by them. The oil is forced into the upper by the rolls as they work the upper during their beating and rubbing operation, and it softens the leather rendering it more pliable and causing it to conform more readily to the contour of the last. In the heel seat beating operation it is found that the use of the oil is of special advantage in causing the upper to lie down and remain in beaten down condition. The

oil also serves to lessenthe friction between the leather and the roll and to reduce the lahor ofholding the shoe up to the action of the machine. By means of the ironing roll the oil is applied in a heated condition to the upper. As herein shown, the oil is applied automatically to the rolls from reservoirs by means of pads held yieldingly in contact with the" peripheries of the rolls, the flow of the oil being regulated by a suitable valve.

These and other features of the invention including certain combinations-ofoarts and details of construction will be explained in the following description, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings. which show a preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine; Flg. 2 IS an end elevation; Fig. 3 is avertical section through the ironing roll; Fig. is a similar section through the counter beating and heel seat beating rolls; Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 Fig. a; Fig. 6 is'a section on the line 66, Fig. 4. j

The machine comprises a frame 2 in which is mounted a. shaft 4 carrying the several operating tools of the machine. The heel seat beater 6 comprises a roll the periphery of which is concave in the direction of the length of the roll and is provided with" heel seat of a shoe and as herein shown is ofa width on eitherside'of its middle to act upon the side of the heel seat from the rear end of the shoe to the forward end of the counter, as indicated in Fig. 4.

hile the entireheel seat of the shoe may bebeaten by presenting the shoe to theiroll in the relation shown in full. lines in Figs. 4 and 6, the shoe may, if desired, be turned into the position shown in dotted lines in F ig. l for beating the heel seat on one side of the shoe and into the reverse position for beating the heel seat on the other side of the shoe, the rear end of the heel seat alone being beaten in the position in full lines. Adjacent to the heel seat beating roll is mounted the counter beating roll 20, which is shown as of the same diameter as ,the heel seat beating roll, but of a width adapted to. rub the side of the heel portion of the shoe from the edge of the shoe approximately to the upper edge of the counter. The counter beating roll is enlarged or flared at its right hand end 22 in Figs. 1 and 4 which engages the edge of the shoe adjacent to the heel seat this en larged portion forming a guide for the operator in presenting the shoe against the roll. The guide also overlies the edge of the shoe and assists in shapingthe edge. The Psriphery of the counter beating roll is provided with beating surfaces formed by a series of closely adjacent or connected grooves or depressions 24. These depressions terminate inside the edges of the roll so that the flared edge 22 is smooth and also the opposite edge 25 is smooth or uninterrupted. This construction bV which the edge 25 is left smooth avoids the formation of a line or mark on the shoe" indicating the upper limit of the area acted upon by the counter beater.

'At the left-hand end of the shaft '1 the ironing roll 30 is mounted. The roll is, as herein shown, provided with a smooth or uninterrupted periphery and is designed particularly for rubbing or ironing the upper around the sides of the forward portion of the shoe at and adjacent to the edge of the shoe. The roll is heated by friction blocks 82, shown as engaging the opposite sidesof the roll at opposed points so that one counteracts the side pressure of the other. These friction blocks 32 are mounted in a holder 34 andset against the roll by the screws 35.

The mechanism for prises oil reservoirs the upper ends of arms 42 which are supported by a rod 44 arranged at the back of the machine. Springs 45 actuate the arms toward the several rolls. Each reservoir connects through a conduit With a pad 46 of felt or other absorbent material which by the action of the spring 45 is held yieldingly against the periphery of the roll and distributes the oil over the working surface of the roll. A valve controlled by the adjusting screw t8 regulates the flow of the oil.

In the use of the machine the heel seat of a shoe may be presented to the heel seat beater 6, as shown in Fig. 4.. If the heel seat has not been'lasted before the shoe is presented to the machine the beater will break down the counter and other upper material about the heel end of the shoe, wiping and heating it inwardly from the edge applying oil com- 40 arranged on of the shoe and causing it to conform to the contour of the bottom and edge of the last. If the heel seat has already been lasted before the shoe is presented to the machine the beater will compact and even the overworked upper material on the bottom of the heel seat and force the tacks fully into the stock if all of them have not been completely driven in the lasting operation, thus forming a suitable seat for the heel end of the sole. The shoe may next be presented to the counter beater by which the upper material on the side of the heel portion of the last is rubbed and beaten into conformity with the contour of the side faces of the last. The edge of the shoe will also to a greater or less extent be shaped by and will by them be applied to the shoe upper material and worked into the leather.

The oil supplied to the ironing device 30 will be heated by it and worked into the upper while in heated condition. The oil appears to penetrate and soften the upper very rapidly when thus applied and worked into the stock by the heaters and heated roll. It renders the stock more pliable causing it to conform more readily to the contour of the last and to remain in the position to which it is beaten down or laid by the heaters.

Having fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States i 1. In a machine of the class described, a beater provided on its periphery with a plurality of closely adjacent beating surfaces having a relatively large diameter and narrow periphery and means for rotating the beater, said parts being constructed and arranged to act on the side of the shoe in the direction of the length of the edge of the s 0e.

2. In a machine of the class described, a rotary beater formed on its periphery with a plurality of closely adjacent beating surfaces, terminating at one end at a distance inside the end of the beater and formed to engage the work by a movement in a plane at a small angle to the plane of the side of the shoe being treated.

3. In a machine of the class described, a heater comprising a roll provided on its periphery with a plurality of closely adjacent beating surfaces terminating inside the ends of the roll, said roll being flared at one end to overlie the edge of the shoe adjacent to the heel seat and being substantially emo-oth at the opposite end.

4c. In a machine of the class described, a roll adapted to engage the side of the shoe at and adjacent to the edge of the shoe, means to drive said roll, and means for heating the roll comprising friction plugs opposed to each other and engaging opposite sides of the roll.

5. A rotary beater constructed and arranged to engage a lasted shoe at and adj acent to the edge of the shoe and to deliver light rapid blows to the upper on the side of the shoe in the direction of the length of the edge of the shoe, said beater being formed to overlie the edge of the shoe bottom, and

after the soie is attached.

6; A- rotary beater constructed and aI'- ranged to engage a lasted shoe at and adj acent to the edge of theflsho'e and to deliver light rapid blows to the upper, one edge of said beater being formed to overlie the edge of the shoe, one edge of said beater 10 being formed to present a continuous rubhing suriiace, and means foractuatingthe beater.

In testimony whereof I have signed my" name to' this specification inthe presence of two subscrlblng wltnesses.

ETTA MAYO, ARTHUR L. RUSSELL.

mm o: m paint may in mama of nve cmfis each, by addressing the Commissldfix" 0r rac'eau,

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,106,394, granted August 11,

1914, upon the application of Benjamin F. Mayo, of Salem, Massachusetts, for

an improvement in Machines for Use in the Manufacture of Boots and Shoes,

errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 2, after the Word latter insert the word rotary; same page, line 4, strike out the word rotary; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice. v

Signed and sealed this 6th day of October, A. D., 1914.

[snnn] R. F. WHITEHEAD,

Acti/ng Commissioner of Patents. 

